Marjorie Bennett

She had a few credited roles in silent films of the 1910s. such as "Naughty, Naughty!", "Hugon, the Mighty", and "The Midnight Patrol".

Bulky, latterly white-haired Australian-born actress, in American films from 1916. A former bathing beauty, she acted in a few silent films and re-emerged after a break of nearly three decades in character parts, noted particularly as Charlie Chaplin's abrasive landlady in "Limelight" (1952). She had numerous supporting roles on the small screen from the mid-50's, often as pompous, easily deflatable comic foil, or as gruff housekeepers or snooty socialites.

Bennett made her film debut in the film "The Girl, Glory" (1917).

Bennet started appearing regularly in minor film roles in the late 1940s, with films such as the black comedy "Monsieur Verdoux" (1947), the romantic comedy "June Bride" (1948), and the horror comedy "Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff" (1949).

None of them had a lasting impactShe resumed her film career in 1946, with the uncredited part of a shop assistant in the mystery film "Dressed to Kill".

By the 1950s, Bennett was quite established as a character actress in both film and television. She played the gruff landlady Mrs.

Alsop in "Limelight" (1952), appeared in several more "Abbot and Costello" films, and had a recurring role in the television series "Lassie".

In the 1960s, Bennett had her first known role as a voice actress, as the character "Duchess" in the animated film "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961). Duchess is one of the cows who offers shelter for the night and warm milk to the starving puppies, following their escape from villains Horace and Jasper.

Bennett continued regularly appearing in film throughout the 1960s.

She had small roles in both "Mary Poppins" (1964) and "My Fair Lady" (1964).

Her credits included psychological thriller "The Night Walker" (1964) and the horror film "Billy the Kid Versus Dracula" (1966), She also made several more television appearances.

In the 1970s, Bennett had a more substantial role in the mystery film "Stacey" (1973). She played aging heiress Florence Chambers, who hired private investigator Stacey Hanson to examine whether the surviving members of Florence's family were worthy to be included in her will. Chambers eventually learns that one of her would-be heirs is homosexual, a second one is having extramarital affairs, and a third one belongs to a Manson Family-style religious cult.

Bennett's other film roles in this decade included the crime thriller "Charley Varrick" (1973), the disaster film "Airport 1975" (1974), the black comedy "I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?" (1975), and the crime comedy "The North Avenue Irregulars" (1979).

Her final television appearance was in an episode of the sitcom "Barney Miller" (1975-1982).

In the television film "Sherlock Holmes in New York" (1976), Bennett played Mrs. Martha Hudson, Holmes' landlady.

In the television film "Better Late Than Never" (1979), Bennett played Marjorie Crane, one of the residents of a nursing home who revolt against oppressive rules.

In 1980, Bennet finally retired, due to poor health.

Bennett died in 1982, and her ashes were interred in the Great Mausoleum's Columbarium of Dawn at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale.

The film was another adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes series on film, and was the 14th and final entry in a film series which cast Basil Rathbone as Sherlock.

Marjorie Bennett was an Australian actress, who spend most of her career working in the United Kingdom and the United States. She was born in York, Western Australia, a town that was an important stop for miners and travelers during the Australian gold rushes of the late 19th century. York is located 97 kilometers (60 miles) east of Perth, Western Australia's capital and largest city.